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I’m going to put my flame-retardant suit on as I throw in my 2 cents:

In the short-term, Repubs need to understand that Obama is riding a huge wave of popular support from the media and the public. Even intelligent arguments against his plans will be interpreted as partisan bickering. So, I think the kissing up the Obama is a necessary evil.

Secondly, Congress has a low approval rating. Repubs need to exploit this. Obama wants to divide and conquer the Repubs. The Repubs need to play the same game. They can play nice with Obama, credit Obama with wisdom, and, at the same time, demonize Pelosi and Reid. Point out the arrogance of their leadership and their pork-barrel positions. Try to court the blue-dog Democrats and make sure they have a friend in the Repubs. I’m sure the blue-dogs are just as uncomfortable with Reid and Pelosi as the Repubs are.

Next, go after Obama’s cabinet after the administration stumbles. They can always say that they voted for their confirmation on good faith and then when they start slipping, point out Clinton’s conflict of interests, Geitners tax recklessness... After all, Repubs can say, how can Obama succeed when he is surrounded by corrupt idiots?

On any crucial issues (like health care), Repubs should do their best to credit Obama, but tie things up by demonizing Reid and Pelosi for any of their contributions.

All this is contigent that the Repubs, conservaties and RINOs can work together and stop the infighting. That, of course, is a huge, and perhaps faulty assumption.

Hannity and Limbaugh should continue doing what they do best and go straight after Obama. They aren’t politicians and if Obama tries to silence them, it may be interpreted as overreaching.

As far as a leader goes, it will need to be someone from the outside, simply that the aforementioned infighting that will occur will force Senators and Congressment to take both sides of the issues at times, siding with Obama but siding against the Legislators. The leader will have to be able to be a vocal critic of socialist ideas, but more importantly, communicate the conservative message with clarity. They will have to speak the truth.

As much as I like Palin, I don’t think she yet has the credibility that most of America (especially in purplish states) can accept. People I’ve talked to think she’s dumb, or scary. I think it’s a shame what the media has done to her, but unless she can find a way to counter that perception, it will continue to stick.

I think, hold your breath, Mitt Romney has the finances, can claim outsider status, some name recognition, and the gravitas to communicate the public on economic and conservative matters clearly. As Freepers often point out, he does have to be very careful to be consistent, which is certainly not his forte. He has to complete his transformation into a true conservative and find a way to appeal to Southern voters, or else he will continue to be unelectable.

For all his faults, I just don’t see anybody else right now that can fit the bill. Newt is popular in conservative circles, but he’s very negatively thought of in centrist and liberal circles.

This is going to be a rough ride regardless filled with puke-worthy ass-kissing. It will also involve a lot of compromising of principles. Fortunately, puke-worthy ass-kissing compromising is one thing that all of our legislators are good at.

My personal prediction is that the Repubs will not be able to unite well enough to counter the Dems and will have, as Dick Morris says, France. There will be no difference between a Repub and a Dem in 12 years. :(

Super reply...no flame retardant needed.

The only thing I’d add is Newt is a great magnet and can be used as a decoy if his ego would allow it.

Again, I thought and may still, think Ralph Reed was a sharp tack.

Rush and Hannity are great, but talking to the fence riders who really decide the elections, is the hard nut.
To do this, we have to INVENT something to go over the heads of the media, and that, is the next either invention, or rather said, “rule-breaker” media or other invention. Examples that break the mold are Flicker, Youtube, Linkedin, etc. These plus a ton of cash plus organization are what’s needed. One issue is the Silicon Valley folks who invent this stuff are usually the paper billionaires who are commies that of course, still love their money and want to spend ours to fullfil their dreams. Find a rich conservative start-up techie to fund it...so, how do we go over the media’s heads to talk to the people?

It’s a shame that people rely on the media to tell them what to think of a person, that is the scariest thing of all. Sarah does need more experience, yes you are correct on that, and I have no idea who these people are who have told you that Sarah is “Dumb” show them her state of the state address and ask them the same question again and let me know if they still feel the same way. I am not saying that she still needs to get her feet wet and gain more experience because she does, but she is definitely on her way to having a great future and perhaps in 2012, or 2016 she will run for President, will she win, it all depends on the state of the Republican party. Look at this party, they are all jumping ship and going to the Democratic side saying “We all must join together” I don’t remember Dems saying after Bush won in 2000 that they have to join together, they were too busy crying how Bush stole the election. I want to see all the RINOS come out so that we can throw them overboard, who needs them. Obama will crash and burn, it’s already started with the laws he is implementing, they are destructive to this country, once enough people open up their damn eyes and see him for what he is we will have our chance to win. Some idiots unfortunately you will never convince, such as the sub-humans who post on the adn, Alaska had an earthquake today, which had NOTHING at all to do with Sarah Palin, they are blaming her for the earthquake, yes these are the people we are all dealing with in this New America under Obama, it’s sick

I agree with what you say. Especially,

All this is contigent that the Repubs, conservaties and RINOs can work together and stop the infighting. That, of course, is a huge, and perhaps faulty assumption.

I think the Republican party has to redefine their "base". There doesn't seem to be a way to make a coherent party of the current warring factions.

The key to 2010, and 2012, is to pick leaders who can provide a good and coherent alternative to the far Left platform we have in control now. I am very concerned about who will be elected head of the RNC. Michael Steele is my choice, because he understands the need to have a solid message, even if it doesn't satisfy everyone.

And I'd like to see Romney as the candidate being groomed for the 2012 election. His financial management skills will be sorely needed then.

I don't expect the GOP party platform to be one that I agree with 100%; I just hope it's coherent enough and clear enough that we are all marching together.

You have a fairly good grasp of what is going on. As Republicans we are already taking stock of who will run in two years. Actually, we have been for a while. We are, for the most part, open and neutral as to who it will be. Frankly incumbency is favored as that gives us a near certain win. We are looking for attractive young candidates who can articulate a clear and contrasting message and who have a clean background and, very importantly, can raise money on their own. We are looking at the current social divisions and anticipating what new ones will come to the forefront. We want bridge candidates.

There is a lot of support for Sarah Palin but virtually no one believes that she will be the nominee in 2012. She could be, but she has a rough road ahead. My guess is Romney but there are a number of bright young Republicans who could catch fire.

You make some good arguments, and some good points. I especially agree that as things are going, there will be no difference in Republican and Democrat parties in 12 years, though there are some who would say that there really is no difference... and they may be more right than wrong.

We don’t need to come at this with a Republican vs. Democrat mentality; we need to absorb the disenfranchised Democrats, possibly even leaving the RINO party to do so... in other words, we need to have [and be] men of character, men who will not stand for the corruption of DC.

If we make it about something simple, that most everyone can get behind, the un-Patriot elite will not be able to stop us... after we establish that America is supposed to be governed Of the People and By the People and that there should be no special treatment of someone because they have political friends. (Our new Sec. of Treasury? That guy with the cash in his freezer? so many more... get a free ride for things that would get us “poor common folk” tossed into jail for.)

If we can catch the moral outrage of the conservatives, and incite the Democrats/social-liberals (who claim to want social justice; also, how can one have “social” justice when REAL justice is ignored?) and share this with them... that is key.